Legging



K. E. JENSEN June 19, 1934.

LEGGING Filed May 31, 1930 Patented June 19, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE I LEGGING Application May 31, 1930, Serial No. 457,759

6 Claims.

The invention relates generally to leggings and more particularly to an industrial legging especially adapted for use by workmen in steel mills, foundries, etc., as a protection against flying particles of molten metal or other hazards.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved legging adapted to protect the leg and foot of the wearer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel legging which may be very rapidly removed from a wearers leg so that in an emergency, as when molten metal is splashed against the legging, the wearer may remove the legging before the metal has time to burn through the legging and so injure him.

Another object, in conjunction with the foregoing, resides in the provision of a novel fastening means which is readily adjustable and quickl releasable.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a new and improved legging embodying novel means for supporting and maintaining the leg protecting covering about and on a wearers leg.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel legging which is comfortable, allows unhampered movement of the wearers leg, foot and ankle, and in which the lower portion of the legging is maintained in spaced relation to the wearers foot and leg to permit of ventilation of the parts by a free circulation of air therebetween. In the preferred embodiment illustrated herein this object is effected by providing a flexible member arranged to extend between spaced parts of the front portion of the legging, which member engages an adjacent part of the wearers leg or foot to maintain the front of the legging in spaced and overlying relation to the wearers foot and leg.

More specifically stated it is an object of the invention to provide a legging in which a leg protecting covering, formed from a single substantially regularly shaped piece of material adapted to extend about a wearers leg, has quickly detachable means thereon adjacent the upper edge for securing and maintaining said covering in position and further embodies a pair of flexible members extending between spaced parts of the lower edge of the covering to properly shape portions of said covering to receive the wearers heel and to cover or extend about the wearers instep.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following description and from the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a legging embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the legging taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the fastening means for the upper portion of the legging. I

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of said fastening means.

Fig. 5 is an inside view of the legging in substantially extended condition.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawing and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but intend'to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

With particular reference to Fig. 5 of the drawing, the present invention is presented in connection with a flexible leg protecting covering generally designated 10 which is adapted to en circle a wearers leg and position the opposite U sides thereof in overlapping relation. Usually, the protecting covering is formed of leather or a similar wear resisting or protective material, and the legging is so constructed that the edges or sides thereof meet on the outer side of the leg.

Since the present industrial legging is particularly adapted for use by workmen in industries in which the workmen continually handle hot articles or materials, it has been found that the ordinary type of close fitting legging becomes very uncomfortable to the wearer after it has been worn for a short space of time. The present invention overcomes this difficulty by providing means for securing and maintaining the leg protecting covering on a wearers leg in such manner that free circulation of air throughout substantially the entire length of the legging is permitted. To this end, means are provided for securing the upper portion of the legging in a substantially close fitting or snug relationship to the wearers leg, while other means are employed for maintaining-the lower portion of therlegging in spaced relation to the wearers ankle and foot, and, at the same time, for disposing the legging in a protecting position relative to the parts from which it is spaced.

As may be seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, the preferred means for holding the lower portion of the legging in place comprises the following construction: An elongated flexible member 11, which is herein shown in the form of a strap,- is connected at one end, as at 12, to the flexible covering adjacent the lower edge and near one side thereof. The other end of the strap is secured, as at 13, to an intermediate portion of the flexible covering near the lower edge thereof. The strap is substantially shorter than the length of the portion of covering connected thereby so that said portion of covering is held in the form of a curl or fold generally indicated at 14. By properly predetermining the relative sizes and the disposition of the parts, this arrangement produces a pocket into which the wearer may insert the heel of a shoe with the strap, of course, extending beneath the instep of the foot, in front of the heel. (See Fig. 1.)

Similarly, a second flexible member or strap 15 extends between the opposite side of the legging from that to which the first strap 11 is secured, and an intermediate portion of the covering. The second strap is likewise shorter than the length of the portion of covering connected thereby to form a fold indicated at 16 on the part of the legging which may be designated the front. However, the second strap is secured to the inner side of the covering and is preferably positioned upwardly of the covering a short distance from the lower edge thereof so that when the legging is in position on a wearers leg, the second strap extends across and engages the wearers instep, as isclearly shown in Fig. 1.

V In consequence of this construction, it will be evident that the portion 16 of the covering will be maintained in an outwardly extending position with respect to the wearers leg, and at the same time will overlie and protectingly enclose the front portion of the wearers leg and foot. It may be well to point out at this time as an additional feature that the flare which is usually provided in leggings to protect the wearers instep and toe may be eliminated by this construction, thus materially lessening the cost of manufacture. r

The construction of the lower portion of the legging includes a means for securing the meeting sides of the legging together in such manner that said sides may be quickly separated. For

. this purpose (see Figs. 1 and 5) one side edge of the legging may be turned upon itself and stitched to provide a pocket 17 extending along said side. This pocket receives an elongated strip of stiffening material, such as the metal bar 18. The lower end of the pocket 1'7 terminates a short distance from the lower edge of the covering and the stiffening bar extends outwardly beyond the pocket a short distance, as shown at 19 (Fig. 5)

The opposite side of the legging carries a vertically opening pocket 20 formed in any suitable manner, as by stitching a strip of leather to the side of the covering, which pocket is positioned to receive the lower end19 of the bar 18. Insertion of the end of the bar into the pocket maintains the lower portion of the covering in position about the wearers foot, which maintaining engagementmay be instantly released by merely withdrawing the end of the bar from the pocket.

As has been mentioned, the upper portion of the legging fits rather snugly about the wearers leg and in the present embodiment means are provided for holding the legging in this position, which means is capable of ready adjustment to any size and may also be instantly released. To this end, one side of the covering, which prefer.- ably is the side which passes about the rear portion of the wearers leg, carries one part 21 (Figs. 3 and 5) of a complementary snap fastener. The other part 22 of the snap fastener is mounted on an elongated flexible member 23, one end of which is turned rearwardly and secured upon itself by the part 22 of the snap fastener. The loop loosely carries a pair of closed rings 24, 25 which preferably are of the same diameter.

In substantially transverse alinement to the snap fastener part 21, the opposite side of the covering has a second elongated flexible member or strap 26 permanently secured at one end thereto. The relation of the parts is such that when the parts 21, 22 of the snap fastener are engaged, the free end of the second flexible member 26 may be inserted through both of the rings 24, 25 and then turned upon itself to pass successively about the outer one 25 of the rings and through the inner one 24 (see Figs. 3 and 4). When the parts have this relationship any force which tends to effect a separation of the rings and the second flexible member 26 is resisted by the clamping force of the two rings upon the portion of the flexible member which passes therebetween. When, however, the rings are separated slightly, the second flexible member may be pulled in either direction to adjust the relative positions of the parts.

The free end of the first flexible member 23 which carries the snap fastener part 22 is provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced apertures 27 (Fig. 4) through which the free end of the second flexible member 26 may be passed or threaded as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5. manner of connecting the two loose ends of the members together serves a dual purpose; that is, it maintains the position of adjustment of the second flexible member relative to the rings and it combines the two loose ends into a single member which may be grasped by the wearer when he wishes to effect a disengagement of the snap fastener parts. Thus, in case of an emergency, the wearer does not have to choose beits This

tween two straps but merely grasps and pulls the single combined member to quickly free the covering from the leg.

In using the legging, the wearer, in order to place the legging in position relative to his leg and foot, places his heel within the pocket or curl 14, said strap being positioned in front of the heel of the wearers shoe. The flexible covering is then passed about the leg and the projecting end 19 of the bar 18 is inserted in the pocket 20. This brings the strap 15 into engagement with the wearers instep and disposes the front portion 16 of the legging in loosely overlying relation to the front of the wearers foot. The snap fastener parts 21, 22 of the upper portion of the legging are then engaged and the second flexible member 26 is drawn through the rings 24, 25 until a desired adjustment is obtained. The free end of the second flexible member 26 is then passed through the apertures 2'7 in the flexible member 23 which carries the snap fastener part 22.

When the wearer wishes to remove the legging, it is only necessary to grasp with the fingers of one hand and pull the combined ends of the two flexible members 23 and 26 to disengage the snap fastener parts. A slight continuation of the pull, after the disengagement of the snap fasteners, frees the end of the stiffening member 18 from the pocket 20 after which the wearer may step clear of the legging. It will be seen, therefore, that the legging may be very quickly removed from the wearers leg in the case of emergency.

When the workman wishes to replace the legging about his leg, he secures the lower portion of the legging in place, as has been previously set forth, and re-engages the snap fastener at the upper portion of the legging. A second adjustment, of course, is unnecessary since the original adjustment is not disturbed by the act of removing the legging.

30 designates stiffening or reinforcing members formed of fibre or other substantially rigid material which may if desired, be secured to the inner or outer surface of the front portion of the covering in order to additionally reinforce and support this portion of the legging.

From the foregoing it will be evident that a novel legging has been provided which is comfortable, eliminates any restriction to the freedom of movement of the wearers foot and ankle, and which is loose and open to permit free circulation of air throughout substantially the entire legging.

I claim as my invention:

1. A legging comprising, in combination, a leg-protecting covering of substantially regular shape adapted to encircle a wearers leg with the sides of said covering in overlapping relation, complementary fasteners on the upper portions of each side for maintaining said covering in position, a longitudinally extending bar secured to one side of the covering, means on the other side of said covering providing a receptive pocket for the lower end of said bar to hold the lower part of said covering in position, a flexible strap extending between an intermediate portion of the lower edge of said covering and one side, and a second flexible strap extending between an intermediate portion of the lower edge of said covering and the opposite side, each flexible strap being shorter than the length of the portion of covering connected thereby to provide folds in the covering arranged respectively to embrace the heel and to overlie the instep of the wearers foot.

2. A legging comprising, in combination, a leg protecting covering adapted to encircle a wearers leg, means for maintaining said covering in place, a flexible member extending between spaced portions of the covering adjacent the lower edge thereof and arranged to pass beneath a wearers instep to hold a portion of said covering in heel-embracing position, and a second flexible member extending between and secured only to spaced portions of the covering near the edge thereof and arranged to pass over and engage the wearers instep whereby said second flexible member tends to hold a portion of said covering in overlying and outwardly spaced relation to the wearers instep and the back of said covering snugly against the wearers heel.

3. A legging comprising, in combination, a flexible leg-protecting covering adapted to encircle a wearers leg with the sides of said legging in overlapping relation, and means for holding said covering in position including an elongated flexible member, complementary fasteners on said member and on one of the sides of said covering, a second elongated flexible member secured to the opposite side, means providing an adjustable connection between said two members, and means for connecting" the extending ends of said members together so that a single member is presented to the grasp of the wearer in the operation of disengaging said fasteners.

4. A legging comprising, in combination, a flexible leg-protecting covering adapted to encircle a wearers leg with the sides of said legging in overlapping relation, and means for holding said covering in position including an elongated flexible member, means detachably securing said member intermediate the ends thereof to one side of the legging, said means being fashioned for disengagement by a pull on one of the ends of said member, a second flexible member carried by the other side of said covering, an adjustable connection interposed between the second flexible member and one end of the first flexible member, and means connecting the loose ends of both flexible members together.

5. A legging comprising, in combination, a flexible leg protecting covering adapted to encircle a wearers leg with the sides of said legging in adjacent relation, and means for holding said covering in position, including an elongated flexible member having one part of a complementary fastener secured intermediate the ends thereof, the other part of said fastener being carried by one side of said covering, a pair of rings loosely carried by one end of said flexible member, and a second flexible member secured to the other of the sides of said covering and positioned thereon so that the free end of said second flexible member can be wound through said rings to provide an adjustable connection between said two flexible members, said first mentioned flexible member having in the loose end thereof a pair of apertures through which the loose end of said second flexible member can be threaded to secure the loose ends of both flexible members together, thereby providing a single member which the operator may grasp in order to pull said complementary fasteners apart.

6. A legging comprising, in combination, a protecting covering of substantially regular shape adapted to encircle the wearers leg, means for detachably securing said covering in place, a flexible strap extending between intermediate portions of the lower edge of said covering, and a second flexible strap extending between an intermediate portion of the side edge of said covering and an opposed side, each flexible strap being shorter than the length of the portion of the covering connected thereby to provide folds in the covering arranged respectively to snugly embrace the heel and loosely overlie the instep of the wearers foot.

KARL E. JENSEN. 

